She's 72, and it showed up about four years ago. Until recently she has been able to live in her house, taking care of herself, albeit with difficulty at times. Earlier this year, however, she passed out and fell at the top of the stairs and was taken to the hospital for exam. From there it was a trip to rehab and then to assisted living, which is horribly expensive. Her son lives in Malaysia and the rest of her siblings are scattered across the country.
She doesn't have the shakes yet, but her leg muscles lock up and she falls frequently. Each time means a trip to the ER. Her fall last week resulted in a dislocated hip, which the doctors fixed by installing a pin.
From a sibling point of view, the worst thing is knowing that the disease will only get worse. I've read that practically no one dies from Parkinson's, so she could live another 15 years watching her body and mind deteriorate, along with her savings.
It's sad. Barb was so alive and vital before PD hit, always sending me pictures of her latest hike in the mountains west of Denver. Now she can't even make it to the toilet without help.
I've often asked myself how a just God can allow such horrible things happen to good people, while leaving those who are purely evil -- Trump, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Bolton -- untouched. "Life's not fair," is a cop out excuse. The day someone can convincingly explain God's capriciousness will be the day I stop being agnostic.
Until then, here's a picture of Sis taking part in "Race for the Cure" in Denver ten years ago. She may not be as famous as Alan Alda or Michael J. Fox, but she's a star to me.
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